Build log

MikeM · 2008-11-21T19:51:54+00:00

Hey guys So I've had tons and tons of ideas for the past few weeks, but the first one I've acted on is this... I'm gonna build a guitar. From intensive personal debating on the woods to use, today I bought myself enough wood to make 2x poplar bodies, and 2x ash bodies. You WILL NOT believe the insanely beautiful grain on the ash! Omg clear finish for definite! Anyway, so far I've planed the wood, gosh hardwood is HARD! And glueing myself 1x poplar blank. Doing a second blank tomorrow using a different glue! All in all, really fun, and looks cool so far! Cheers Mike! P.S. Pics to follow ?

AlanRatcliffe

Working with hand tools there is only so much you can do to get everything perfectly straight. Coarse sandpapers, scraper blades, big sanding blocks all help, but at the end of the day it's down to a bit of experience, a good eye, lots of time, elbow grease and attention to detail.

To be honest, when it's done right, the smoother, more rounded edges of a hand cut and sanded body are actually much nicer to me than the sharp edges of a production line.

MikeM

Oh gosh, I meant to say it's not smooth!!!

Sheesh, been working up a sweat in the garage the whole day, will post pics tomorrow!

MikeM

Routed all pockets but neck tonight. My right arm is numb tho :/ The pockets weren't absolutely perfect, but this is a first attempt ? I am learning as I go along and anyway, they'll be covered ?

MikeM

CornFlakes

Looking Good Man!

MikeM

Thanks ?

Manfred-Klose

Looks good so far.
You have beaten me to it, i will pretty soon start with my guitar.

MikeM

Hey - Update time.

Went off to Gearhead to get some more work done.

Had to route the neck pocket a little before we set the jig up.

Geert's awesome jig

Nicely routed. Had a little bit chip off, but learnt from it.

As of last night (Little more routing)

Done tons of sanding today already. Most of the edges are nice and square and the curves are smooth. Top and bottom face need tons of sanding, and also inside the horn. But will get to that now ?

Cheers

MikeM

Sand

DUST

Template (If anyone wants, shout ? It's not 100% tele, has a strat like horn and the curves are altered just a little oh and no flat part)

Radius on both sides!

Manfred-Klose

You just gotta love sanding ?

Looking good.

Are you also making a neck? or attaching a pre made neck?

MikeM

:/ Don't start. I still have to do the back. And then from P120 upwards.

Using my tele neck. Tbh I'm a little intimidated by making a neck, from the saw width for frets, to the levelling.. If I had the tools I'd give it a bash, but these things cost money :/

Riaan

It's looking good!

MikeM

Cheers! Gotta get to work fixing my dad's pc tomorrow and then will get more work done, then it's a trip to jhb and pta and one more pc to be setup for the rest of the week, otherwise I'm free!!! Going away for a weekend with the parents on Friday though.

So here's the big dilema. Where and what paint do I get?

Heath

looking very good mike ... well done

FatBoy

Looking great so far man!

MikeM

So who's gonna be my spray painter in the area ?

Heath

i like to use the hammerite paints on guitars , they go on ok , and dry to a very hard finish , and don't need varnish . come in many colors and come in aerosol cans .

don't forget a decent wood primer

MikeM

Was thinking of buying some sanding sealer. I'd prefer a clear finish...

Just having probelms with my compresser ☹ Can't get it to regulate pressures. And need a proper spray gun.

Anyone know of anywhere that stocks proper finishing stuff? Sealer, shellac maybe? Spray poly?

TomCat

MikeM wrote Was thinking of buying some sanding sealer. I'd prefer a clear finish...

Just having probelms with my compresser ☹ Can't get it to regulate pressures. And need a proper spray gun.

Anyone know of anywhere that stocks proper finishing stuff? Sealer, shellac maybe? Spray poly?

Have a look at Technipaint.

http://www.technipaintdbn.co.za/industrial_paints_html/wood_coatings.html

I used to deal with them a few years back for loudspeaker paint finishes.....very knowledgeable.

MikeM

Thanks TC. Also found http://www.quicktint.co.za/

slight stuff up on the bottom as you can see here...

« Previous Page Next Page »